04/22/24 - 117 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/9bh4zbtr
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Chesapeake Bay Commission Calls For Action On Biofuels, Wastewater Nutrient Reductions
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The Chesapeake Bay Commission this week called for the Governors of the Bay states and other Chesapeake Executive Council members to complete two key Bay restoration actions: launch next-generation biofuels and upgrade Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant.
When combined, these two specific items could reduce nitrogen pollution entering the Bay by over 10 million pounds per year. When the average annual progress rate of reducing nitrogen pollution is roughly only 3.2 million pounds a year, achieving these two actions will significantly improve the health of the Bay.
At the June 3, 2010, Chesapeake Executive Council meeting held in Baltimore Maryland, the Commission’s Chairman Sen. Thomas McLain (Mac) Middleton charged his fellow Council members to act on sustainable next-generation biofuels.
He urged them to follow the recommendations in the Commission’s 2010 biofuels report to establish a Regional Council for Bioenergy Development and create a sustainable biofuels industry in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Commission’s report, Chesapeake Biofuel Policies: Balancing Energy, Economy and Environment, concluded that if done right, sustainable next-generation biofuels could bring over 18,000 jobs to the region, produce 500 million gallons of biofuels, and reduce nitrogen loads to the Bay by over 4 million pounds, benefiting our farmers, economy, national security and the Bay.
Sen. Middleton announced “If 766,000 acres of winter rye alone were planted in rotation in areas best suited for rye -- the more northern reaches of the watershed -- then, the Bay could see a decrease in 4 million pounds of nitrogen that year.”
The Regional Council for Bioenergy Development, made up of representatives from each state, the District, the Bay Commission and key federal agencies, would promote collaboration among jurisdictions. The Council would also advance the interrelated issues of biofuels production and water quality improvement, together with other regional priorities such as economic development.
Currently, Pennsylvania is the only state in the watershed to have adopted state-specific blending goals for biofuels contingent upon instate production. Sen. Middleton urged the Governors to work with Bay Commission members in their states to follow Pennsylvania’s lead and also adopt statewide homegrown biofuels blending goals. Establishing a consistent market in our region is the first step to attracting new and innovative businesses.
Sen. Middleton also rallied the members of the Executive Council for greater federal support to upgrade Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant, the largest sewage treatment facility in the entire 64,000 square mile Chesapeake watershed. Blue Plains is located in the District and services over 2 million people in Maryland, the District, and Virginia.
Because of its sheer size, costs for upgrading nitrogen removal at the facility exceed $970 million, but the benefits to the Bay will be great and they will be permanent- every year 4 million pounds of nitrogen will be prevented from entering the headwaters of the Bay.
The states and the District are increasing their contributions to upgrade the plant (over $700 million over 10 years); the federal government must do the same (about $180 million over 10 years).
Both developing sustainable next-generation biofuels and upgrading Blue Plains are dependent upon harnessing the latest technology. They both present substantial wins economically and environmentally. Jobs will be created, money will be made and taxes will be paid. If done right water quality will improve, living resources will recover and the Bay will return to good health. These are opportunities that cannot be missed.
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6/7/2010 |
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